The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Transition Comes After Mixed Feedback
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, the company's top executive a key figure notified staff about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the need for a distinct vision.
The president expressed that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
The news mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the complete content from Ismailer's communication:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.
His management and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the last 15 years creating and managing some of the most well-known series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Please join me in greeting him soon. We are all eager to continue seeing the progress of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
David
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Game Information and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in last year alongside a community playtest. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
The game does not have an announced launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to further news as creation progresses.
